MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- Starting the new year off right, Outlaw Motor Speedway is bringing in a new track surface for the 2011 season.

Actually, work began on Dec. 27 by digging up the new clay and scraping off some of the old dirt from the high-banked 3/8-mile oval.

By the next day, new clay hit the ground in turns one and two.

Tonto Construction located the clay on the 160-acre land that the track is situated on.

“This project was actually planned in January of 2010 but rains and bad weather kept us from moving forward,” said track manager Eric Shannon. “This time we decided to get a jump on Mother Nature and not let her derail us.”

Over 600 loads of new clay is scheduled to be put on the track by the end of the project, which should be completed by the end of January.

The rest of the month of January will be spent working in the new clay and preparing the track for opening night.

With the first race of the 2011 season scheduled for April 1, the new track surface will get a test just five weeks into the season when the USMTS Modifieds come to town.

“We are very excited to have the USMTS returning to OMS again this year, and being USRA sanctioned it will only add to what we can offer drivers,” said track co-owner Danny Womack. “Combining with our NASCAR sanction we are really going to have some great things to offer drivers.”

“In 2010 we paid out over $30,000 in points fund monies with our NASCAR sanction, and with the USRA sanction in 2011 we can extend that payout,” added Shannon. “We want drivers to race with us and with that comes more fans, more improvements and better racing. It's good business to try and put out the best product we can to the fans and drivers.”

Both the Outlaw Motor Speedway and Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla., will sanction the USRA RHS Modifieds as part of their weekly racing program in 2011. Also running will be 360 Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Factory Stocks and Grand Nationals.

As a regular competitor at “The Outlaw” during the 2009 season, Greg Skaggs of Muskogee captured the USRA Weekly Racing Series National Championship in the Modified division.

Outlaw Motor Speedway opened April 2003 and has operated under three different ownerships since then. The facility is currently owned by Gary McClenan and Danny Womack.

The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour will invade the Tri-State Speedway on Thursday, April 28, then travel to the Outlaw Motor Speedway on Friday, April 29, for a second straight $2,000-to-win event.

The series returns to the Outlaw Motor Speedway on Friday, Sept. 16, for a $3,000-to-win clash during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

Defending USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., is a two-time winner at the Outlaw Motor Speedway (2003, 2010) while Tommy Myer (2003) and Ryan Gustin (2010) each have one victory here.

Hughes also has two USMTS triumphs at the Tri-State Speedway (2009-2010) while Eddie Martin won here in 2008.

The Outlaw Motor Speedway is located southwest of Muskogee on I-40 to US 69, then 10 miles north to the Wainwright Exit, then 0.1 mile east. For more information call 918-687-9200 or visit www.outlawmotorspeedway.com online.

The Tri-State Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval located 1.6 miles west of the Arkansas-Oklahoma State line on US 271, then 0.3 mile north on W. Race Track Rd. For race day information, call 918-436-2914 or visit www.tri-statespeedway.com online.